Electric cooker



E, LEWIS ELECTRIC COOKER iJan. 4, 1938.

Filed May 2l, 1937 INVENTOR, E/mgr' L @rv/s.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 4, 1938* UNITED STATES PATENT ori-*ics ELECTRIC oooKER Eimer Lewis, Kansas City, Mo. Application May 21, 19st, serial No. 143,953l

1 Claim.

This invention relates `to electric cookers of the character employed in the preparation of irankiurters. wiener-wurst and hamburgers and the primary object is to provide in a single cooker unique means for preparing any one or all of the above mentioned foods simultaneously or alone.

One of the important aims of this invention is to provide an electrical device for preparing foods of the aforementioned character which device is compact, portable, efficient and easy to operate and is extremely eifective in the cooking of foods because of the special disposition of heat units or resistance wires which form a part of the cooker.

@ne of the important objects of this invention is to provide in an electric cooker a series' of closed compartments each of which is circumscribed by a coll of resistance wire so that when the food is placed within the compartment; heat transfer taires place in at least four directions.

i yet further aim of the instant invention is to provide in an electric cooker of the above inen-I tioneol type a series of inclined individual housings, each having independently operable circumscribing coils for the purpose of heating and cooking an article of food which is disposed within the housing; said housings being uniquely se cured to one side of a specially formed case so that the housings are inclined rearwardly and downwardly toward a drain tray into which may loe deposited excess liquid that collects within the case, said case being provided with a drain opening so that the cooking operation is attended by a thorough and complete evacuation from the case of any grease or moisture that might be emitted from the article therein during the cooking operation.

Further objects of the invention will appear during the course of the following specilcation referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure i is a partial, vertical, central sectional view through an electric cooker made in accordance with the present invention, onefhali of the said cooker being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the cooirer taken on line iI--II oi' Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the holder entirely removed from the operative position.

Fig. i is an enlarged, longitudinal, central sectional view through one of the coil surrounded housings.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through one of the housings taken on line V-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional View through in Figs. 4i

(Cl. 21S- 19) a portion of the skillet receiving housing taken on line VI--VI of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a Wiring diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the electric cooker.

Only one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and the numerel iii designates a housing in general that may be made of sheet metal and assembled in any suitable iashion so as to present a slightly inclined front wall having a glass panel l2 therein behind which is placed any number of electric lamps iii spective openings 26 formed in the front walll of case it.

Each housing 2li is like the other two illustrated in the drawing and the specific manner of constructing these novel housings is clearly shown and 5. A tubular inner lining 2d is closed at one end and provided with a drain opening 30 at the lowermost part thereof, and an annular flange 32, integral with inner lining it bears against the inner face of the iront wall of case it. A screw-threaded portion di receives a nut it which is moved against the outer face of the front wall of case it) and cooperates with annular ange 32 in maintaining the housing 2d in a position inclined from the horizontal as the drawing indicates. Aluminum or other metal having a high heat conductive `ability is preferably used in the formation or this inner lining du and a layer of mica 38 is wrapped around lining it just before the resistance wire it is coiled thereabout. After this electrical resistance wire lill is coiled about the mica and inner lining it and 2d respectively, a coating of asbestos or similar insulating material 42 is placed around the wire so as to direct as far as possible the heat inwardly toward the inside of inner lining it. A holder indicated generally by the numeral M Vis specially formed to hold a. frankfurter or wiener such as is commonly sold to the trade as hot dog. This holder comprises a series of resilient wires t6 flared outwardly as at i8 at one end and secured to a cover 50 at the other end thereof. Cover '50 has a suitable knob 52 formed thereon so that the holder M may be easily and quickly lit moved to and from a position within housing 24. When the holder is in the operative position members 46 will be spaced from the inner lining 28 and cover 58 will completely close the open side of inner casing 28 so that a sealed cooking compartment is afforded. Wires 46 are specially formed and each is a U-shaped member having the ends of the legs of each member secured to the cover. The bights ofy each U-shaped member is the portion thereof angled outwardly so into tray 28. The larger housing which is used for the preparation of hamburgers or similar foods is of a slightly different form than housings 24 but made up in precisely the same manner. The inner case 54 should be of aluminum or other material which readily conducts heat and a covering of mica 56 is spread over inner case 54 before wire 58 is wound there around. After the wire is positioned a coating of asbestos or similar material 60 is combined with the remaining parts of the housing.

A skillet or the like 62 forms the commodity holder for food to be prepared in housing 54 and this skillet is attached to a coverl 6.4 for the large opening in case l0 which is in communication with the open side of housing 54. A handle 66 iss provided to allow easy manipulation of skillet All of the several housings employed in this electric cooker are electrically heated and a switch G8 is used to govern the ow of current to wire 58 and a switch 10 is associated with each coil 40 forming a partof each housing 24 respectively. The wiring diagram therefore, will readily indicate the manner of connecting the heating elements 40 and 58 respectively to a. source of supply. Lines 12. and 14 extend from. any generator to a point accessible to the user of this cooker. and when any one of the three coils 40 is to be brought into use the appropriate switch 10 is closed. Switch 68 is of a character permitting a high, medium or low temperature and but a portion of coil 58 is used when medium or low temperature is desired.

Electric lamps I4 may be placed in the circuit with the heating elements if desired so as to indicate when the cooker is in actual operation.

It is obvious from Fig. 2 that the various food receiving housings are in spaced relation and that any one .may be used independently of the other. Modications with respect to specific structural details and combination of parts will become apparent to one skilled in the art and while the preferred form of the invention has been illustrated and described it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

An electric cooker of the character described comprising a case having an inclined front wall provided with an opening; a vertical rear wall having an opening lower than the opening in the front wall; a housing supported within the case by the said front wall, extending toward and terminating a distance from the said rear wall; a

drain tray normally positioned below the inner end of the housing and removable from the case through the opening formed in the said vertical 

